The Romney campaign’s response so far has been muted. The campaign has pushed back against Obama’s attacks largely through press releases and dismissive comments, but they have yet to invest serious ad money to directly combat the hardening narrative.

It’s a move that has left some in the Republican elite, already displeased with the campaign’s flat-footed response to the Obamacare ruling, confused. Several have noted that this is how John Kerry lost in 2004 — by waiting too long to start debunking an opposition message that undermined a key part of his record (in his case, his status as a Vietnam veteran).

It would certainly make Romney’s case more consistent; he could promise to end Obamacare without also having to explain himself. He would also bring his position in line with that of most Republican voters. But it might also be an unmitigated disaster, the most damaging flip-flop ever for a candidate known to change positions.

In the end, it’s almost impossible to imagine Romney would do it. When he talks about health care, there’s always a certain bravado — he has said he just can’t wait to engage Barack Obama in one-on-one debate over health care — that conceals the weakness of his position. He’s come too far to back down now, and odds are he will win or lose without ever admitting that Romneycare was the wrong thing to do.

***

[W]hat are voters to think when they hear the GOP nominee say, as he did yesterday to CBS’s Jan Crawford, “As long as I continue to speak about the economy, I’m going to win”? That they’re dopes who don’t know the economy’s bad, but as long as the Romney campaign keeps instructing them that it is bad, they’ll react correctly and vote the incumbent out of office?

The economy is of course important. But voters want to hear what Romney is going to do about the economy. He can “speak about” how bad the economy is all he wants—though Americans are already well aware of the economy’s problems—but doesn’t the content of what Romney has to say matter? What is his economic growth agenda? His deficit reform agenda? His health care reform agenda? His tax reform agenda? His replacement for Dodd-Frank? No need for any of that, I suppose the Romney campaign believes. Just need to keep on “speaking about the economy.”

***

Presidential races once measured by the hundreds of millions of dollars are now gauged by the billion. That shift has prompted hand-wringing, particularly among Obama supporters, that lackluster funding could doom the campaign. But the heavy emphasis on fundraising masks one key fact: Money means less in a presidential race than in its down-ballot cousins, at least when so much of it is sure to be spent…

“Money has a lot more impact in a race where there isn’t a lot of information out there,” said Kristen Soltis, a GOP consultant. “If I’m running against you for dogcatcher and you can outspend me 2- or 3-to-1, that’s a problem. But … it’s highly unlikely there will be many voters at the end confused about what Barack Obama believes, what Mitt Romney believes.”…

Messages also are more tightly controlled by the candidates themselves — a problem for outside groups that can’t legally coordinate with them. That dilemma could be a particular concern to Republicans, because their better-funded outside group apparatus will likely spend more on the general election than Romney himself.

That is a reprise of Republicans’ mantra of the 2010 midterm elections, which gave them big gains at both the state and federal levels and a majority in the House. Yet the message conflicts not only with their past complaint that Democrats opposed reining in Medicare spending, but also with the fact that House Republicans have voted twice since 2010 for the same 10-year, $500 billion savings in supporting Mr. Ryan’s annual budgets.

The result is a messaging mess, even by the standards of each party’s usual election-year attacks that the other is being insufficiently supportive of older people’s benefits.

They might include Obama’s personal likability, gaps in Romney’s strategy or Americans’ grudging acceptance of a new normal in which millions of jobs are gone for good and no single person is responsible.

Breaking on Hot Air

Blowback

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Mitts got to put on his rally cap and rev up some enthusiasm.I’d vote for a pet rock before I’d vote for bo but Mitt is not looking too effective at this point. Mitt vacation is over, you’ve got a country to save from the marxists so please get to it.

Romney has promoted Kevin Madden to a higher profile in his campaign. Unfortunately, it appears to be evidence that the same nitwit crew that sank McCain and bashes Sarah Palin at every opportunity is gaining influence in Romney’s inner circle.

Romney was doing great with the quickness of feet concerning his responses, until he wasn’t, get it back together team. Oh, and is it off sourcing and out shoring? Or the other way around? Either way Romney needs to keep responses in house, sharp, and fast.

Romney’s gotta hid Obama hard that he’s a private sector virgin. That even if Obama had the best of intentions, he couldn’t fix the economy because someone who’s run a lemonade stand has more experience than Obama. Second, Romney needs to run several ads in Ohio where he explains the things that Obama’s doing wrong and how Romney will fix it. He should have several ads on rotation where each ad only attacks ONE specific item at a time. You start listing more than two items and people tune out. This is why Obama’s ads are resonating. The attacks are focused. Each Romney ad should be like that.

I mentioned in another thread that Krauthammer was saying Romney should stay away from ideology and go with competent just a few weeks ago and now he has done some flip flopping of his own.

The pundits screamed at him to go after the economy, he goes after the economy and they complain.

They call him a flip flopper and then complain when he refuses to flip flop.

I mean come on..none of these people have actually run for office and won.

They are just professional gum flappers and I am getting kind of tired of the constant belly aching.

Sheesh. Romney was very quick to respond to attacks on his record..but it is difficult for any Republican to counter the entire media which is so ready to go after that Republican while they overlook the many and myriad shortcomings of Obama.

The playing field is not exactly level and all this back seat driving is not really helping.

AllahP et al might be right, or Romney might be positioning his troops and resources for the real war that’s yet to begin. If I was running Romney’s campaign, I would still be spednig time trying to see how Obama reacts to certain things, and even lull Obama into a sense of complacency.

Also, I find it hard to imagine going full-out before the VP is named.

All wishful thinking? We can’t know yet. I’m giving Romney the benefit of the doubt, something I’ve done for the past two years (transcient Perry and Newt panics excluded)

Romney should not kick into high gear now. If you attack for 4 months, you will be tuned out by the media (and the populace) with “he’s been saying that for months, where is his fresh material?” The election doesn’t start until Labor Day. Keep your powder dry, build up a solid, sure, steady-as-you go campaign. You will not know who you are running against until the Democrat Convention, Biden will probably be dumped for a headline grabber. All that had gone before will be forgotten and you have to start fresh when the Democrat ticket is announced.
Keep the game close until the 4th quarter and then come at them with everything you have. To hell with the conservative pundits who want fresh meat everyday to keep you tuning in and reading them. Romney knows what he is doing, let him do it.

These shitheads that we’re opposing have no notion of morality; therefore the fight we are waging must take this into account.

Let’s get fired up and get out of our comfort(able) zone and go recruit folks to our side. We have facts and truth on our side; all that is remaining is to inform people how their “free sh*t” is far from free.

I’m normally a passive kind of dude, but this cycle I’m door to door and all over the phones. Please volunteer for your local branch of the cause.

Awwwwww, the Republican establishment is all bent out of shape because Mitt’s not dancing fast enough. Should we remind them that the Obama administration is 0 for 5 in political attacks, and if you give them enough rope, they end up hanging themselves?

No, better to stomp and curse and throw tantrums. Summer must be boring in D.C.

Romney has promoted Kevin Madden to a higher profile in his campaign. Unfortunately, it appears to be evidence that the same nitwit crew that sank McCain and bashes Sarah Palin at every opportunity is gaining influence in Romney’s inner circle.

novaculus on July 7, 2012 at 8:44 PM

Romney has no problem attacking Conservatives, he’s been doing it for years. ,

Remember last month when lefties were all lathered up about Obama’s campaign?
Now it’s our turn.
If Romney took all the advice being thrown at him he would be running around in circles tryng to please everyone.

Awwwwww, the Republican establishment is all bent out of shape because Mitt’s not dancing fast enough. Should we remind them that the Obama administration is 0 for 5 in political attacks, and if you give them enough rope, they end up hanging themselves?

No, better to stomp and curse and throw tantrums. Summer must be boring in D.C.

John the Libertarian on July 7, 2012 at 8:56 PM

I’m not discounting the possibility that not everyone with an “R” after their name wants to take back the WH either. After all, they’re going to get paid the same regardless and if we hand them the WH and a majority in the Senate, they may have to actually do something.

Let’s face it. Until Romney picks a VP running mate, his election is in hover mode. Who he picks for VP will determine how aggressive he goes after Obama. If he picks a Christie or a Jindal, he has a chance to hit Obama hard. If he picks some of the other possibilities, I don’t see Obama being attacked as hard. Jindal has come out swinging lately.

Romney has promoted Kevin Madden to a higher profile in his campaign. Unfortunately, it appears to be evidence that the same nitwit crew that sank McCain and bashes Sarah Palin at every opportunity is gaining influence in Romney’s inner circle.

novaculus on July 7, 2012 at 8:44 PM

About the only positive thing you can say about Kevin Madden is that he is handsome (unlike his buddy Mike Murphy, who looks like a Klingon). These guys have been in more losses than Chicago Cubs managers. Their advice is always the same; ignore conservatives and move to the mushy middle.

Funny how this concerted message about Romney starts eminting from DC at the same time. just a month ago everyone was praising the Romney ampaign for its quick responses.

Hmmm….

Im convinced this hysteria is preplanned in board rooms and part of an overall marketing strategy to sell news papers, advertising and generate web site hits. So many people who surround the political scene are in the entertainment industry and are so busy trying to make themselves good livings by drumming up “news of the week” hysteria, that the countrys welfare really doesnt matter a wit to them.

As the Obama campaign and its allies continue to spend millions of dollars casting Mitt Romney as an “outsourcing pioneer” — a message that could cut to the very core of his record as a businessman — some Republicans are beginning to grumble that their nominee is making the classic mistake of modern politics in letting the attacks go unanswered…

Keep your eye on the two main issues of this campaign: 1) Obamanomics and ObamaCare are set to destroy the American (free, prosperous & successful) way of life; and 2) Obama’s constant desire/need to genuflect to Arabs, Chinese Autocrats, corrupt Mexican Presidents, etc., etc., etc. …).

Romney doesn’t need to respond the fire from the Left and the fire from the (retarded) Right.

Romney seems to go after O on the edges, he won’t direct attacks at the core of what everybody understands is the problem. He needs to start going after the core of what we and the centrist independents and the Reagan Democrats hate about Obama — his ultra liberalism, and most of us would say: socialism, at least radicalism.

Romney should start using that word: RADICAL.

Problem is a lot of conservative leaning voters are going to kind of roll their eyes and think, what’s the real difference? In this case, they go for O, because they’re still impressed by the “first black president” aspect. Romney seems to be making the same mistake (to a lesser magnitude, though) that Carly Fiorina made in her 2010 CA senate race. See my blog (click my name) for my analysis on that, and see how you could often substitute Romney’s name for hers.

His record. That is why he will lose in a landslide. Obama has brung us from the “nervous” times on 2008 to the “seriously nervous, bordering on panicky” times of Today. That is why he cannot win. Not even with the MSM doing all it can to hide his record.

Brings up a concern many of us who were not early supporters of Romney raised time and time again. Always to be shot down by the most strident Romney supporters as no big deal. York points out that the initial concerns many had are now in light tof the courts decision, basically put Romney in even a more difficult situation, of his own design. I would love to here you strident Rmoney supporters weigh in on this. Please.

Obama has brung us from the “nervous” times on 2008 to the “seriously nervous, bordering on panicky” times of Today

minnesoter on July 7, 2012 at 9:20 PM

your kidding right? do you think obamas base is nervous? no way. they are ecstatic…free healthcare, amnesty, forgivness of student loans. thats not nervousness your witnessing , its periorgasmic activity.
on the other hand you have the poor sap, like me, who pays income taxes. yeah i’m nervous. but so what. neither romney or obama care about my vote. don’t kid yourself. the bamster will be tough to beat.

Brings up a concern many of us who were not early supporters of Romney raised time and time again. Always to be shot down by the most strident Romney supporters as no big deal. York points out that the initial concerns many had are now in light tof the courts decision, basically put Romney in even a more difficult situation, of his own design. I would love to here you strident Rmoney supporters weigh in on this. Please.

Bmore on July 7, 2012 at 9:23 PM

Why don’t you focus rather on Obama’s situation, after all Romney doesn’t run in a vacuum, there’s a context there, and an opponent, both have serious convincing to do…I mean Obama is in a so much rosier situation how, while he has to convince the public that the mandate was a mandate till it was not, and now that it is a tax, it is not really a tax (representing the highest tax raise on e middle class in recent times) even though the IRS is going to collecti it as a tax and his own WH lawyers defended it in court as a tax :)… I mean, sure, by comparison, Romney is in so much trouble defending his position and Obama is in an enviable position :)/sarc…

Someone with a lick of sense, or a group of someones, better tell Romney to step aside at the convention for the good of the country and then get Christie in. It will totally rock the game as O’s team won’t have time to respond whereas We will be on offense all the way.

on the other hand you have the poor sap, like me, who pays income taxes. yeah i’m nervous. but so what. neither romney or obama care about my vote. don’t kid yourself. the bamster will be tough to beat.

renalin on July 7, 2012 at 9:29 PM

Agreed. I think Romney thinks he can just keep saying “I’m not Obama” over and over and he’ll win. I really haven’t heard him say exactly what he’s going to do. He’s got me alredy. I’d vote for Mortimer Snerd at this point if it gets Ocare repealed. But he needs to convince the independents what he stands for and how he’s gonna repair what Obama has destroyed. And as concisely and bullet point like as possible. No one wants to go to his website and read a 59 point plan. His timidity doesn’t do much to inspire confidence.

I’m plenty focused on 0. My question is to early on Romney supporters. I just like to hear if they have any advice to give on, not so much 0, but Romney. York mentions a course correction possibility, just interested in their take on that aspect, does he need to own it a different way?

The pundits are full of chit. There, I said it. 2008 they were all– to a one, left, right & center — in love with Obama because he was a fundraising powerhouse — the “Billion Dollar Man.” Now that he is trolling for wedding presents, they all – to a one — declare that money doesn’t matter in presidential elections. January 2012 they all — to a one — declared we didn’t even need to have an election because Obama was a lock and that the GOP primary was so “bloodied” that the eventual nominee wouldn’t stand a chance even *if* there was a snowball chance in h*ll that Obama wasn’t going to win re-election. Now, they are — to a one — doing their d*mndest to make sure Obama squeaks through by jumping on every move Romney makes with a magnifying glass, parsing it, dissecting it & (always) declaring it “no good” even when the week before they declared the exact opposite move “no good” (not to mention covering up all the obvious lies spewed by Obama). The American people are proving them & their predictions wrong time & time again — the lopsided polls showing Romney in a dead heat with Obama is proof of that. But do they learn? Nope, instead they all — to a one– are praising Obama’s alleged “likability” while telling us how “unlikable” Romney is as if *likability* is what people are going to be voting on in November.

Furthermore, the truth is Romney *is* a likable man. The “robot time-traveling vampire” meme about Romney is nothing but TeamObama/MSM spin. Romney has lived a decent, hard working, honest life with ONE wife, whom he stood by through cancer & MS. Admirable qualities regardless of whether you agree with him on every issue. Do we ever hear about that? No, we get photo ops of “date night” with the Obamas. And while WaPo will go to great lengths to investigate one alleged bullying incident that took place 50 years ago when Romney was in high school and print detailed reports on his “luxury vacation lake home,” they sure don’t bother to put the fact that he (with his sons) saved people from drowning on that lake on 2 separate occasions or the time Mr. “Vulture Capitalist” shut down Bain’s offices to look for a colleague’s 14 year old daughter in NYC, which saved her life (she was found overdosing in the nick of time) in their rag. And don’t forget that greedy, selfish capitalist gave away every penny he inherited from his father to charity because he had made his *own* money, or that he took no salary as MA governor, took no salary when he was asked to come back to Bain after he left for a short period to “bail” them out or that he took a salary of exactly ONE DOLLAR when he went to work to save the Utah Olympics. He’s also said he will take no salary if elected POTUS (of course, libs sneer at that saying that the $400,000 a year POTUS salary isn’t “enough” for him to take it — how that squares with the “greedy capitalist” image of him they’re selling, I have no idea). Why doesn’t George Will or David Brooks tell us about this stuff instead of finding fault with Romney agreeing with the dissenting justices in the Obamacare decision while swooning over Obama’s crisp pants crease? Here’s an idea for the so-called conservative pundits: get over your embarrassing crushes on Obama, stop parsing every sentence Romney utters and start telling the truth about Romney’s record & his “likability.”

I mean, sure, by comparison, Romney is in so much trouble defending his position and Obama is in an enviable position :)/sarc…

jimver on July 7, 2012 at 9:33 PM

And therein lies the problem, what exactly are Romney’s positions besides he’s not Obama? He’s scared to death to really go after Obamacare with a vengeance because of Romneycare. He needs to say screw it and let the chips fall where they may.